“Antoni Gaudí i Cornet, Catalan architect and one of the most important visual artists of the 19th and 20th centuries, suffered from a recurrent and often persistent arthritis since he was 6 years old. His diagnosis is uncertain but juvenile idiopathic arthritis is most likely. He coped successfully with his rheumatic illness during his life. It is proposed that his arthritis may have influenced him to the development of 2 of his major skills: observation power and analysis of nature.”

I continue to be surprised with how many artists (especially architects!) lived with some form or another of rheumatoid arthritis. I continue to be inspired with every new story that I discover. Might there be a relation between chronic illness and creativity?

These photos are so beautiful and the information so inspiring! Did you know that idiopathic juvenile RA is likely believed to be an autoinflammatory disease – ie, in the same family as the very thing I was just diagnoised with! I so needed to hear something inspiring like this right now, to feel less alone and to continue to feel like making my art was possible.